Sewing machine for sewing decorative stitches



March 29, 1966' M. FRESARD 3,242,890

SEWING MACHINE FOR SEWING DECORATIVE STITCHES Filed Jan. 20. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR MA ac/1. F f /1 BY W ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 FRESARD 3,242,890

SEWING MACHINE FOR SEWING DECORATIVE STITGHES Filed Jan. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g 3! ll 4/ 25.| 3/ $446 5T8 Z/ 7! 39 II mgr; Z 32 INVENTOR M14 Reel. FfPEs A?!) BY 5 W,

TTORNEY United States Patent s 3 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) The present invention relates to a sewing machine adapted to sew decorative stitches of the kind comprising a series of control cams juxtaposed on a driving shaft, an oscillating feeler being adapted to slide parallel to said shaft to be drawn into contact with one or other of the cams by means of a selection device, and being angularly secured to an oscillating slide against which a finger abuts for transmitting the movements of the slide to an oscillating cradle in which the needle bar of the sewing machine slides.

According to the invention a sewing machine for sewing decorative stitches, of the kind referred to, has a selection device comprising a driving part for the feeler, guided parallel to the driving shaft and presenting, on the one hand, a pin engaged against the profile of a cam secured to a manually rotatable selecting wheel and on the other hand, a guide head for the feeler allowing it freedom of oscillation.

An embodiment of the invention is described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper part of a sewing machine for sewing decorative stitches;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a block of control cams;

FIG. 3 is a plan of the block of control cams and a selection device for the cams;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, with partial sectioning of the selection device;

FIG. 5 is a plan of connecting mechanism between a cam control device and the needle bar of the sewing machine; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembly of the selection device.

The sewing machine comprises a frame 1 the upper part 2 of which has a cover 3 permitting access to a control device for the movements of the needle bar 4, as well as the movements of the feeder for the pieces to be sewn.

In such a sewing machine, the motor drives a horizontal shaft, not shown, disposed in the upper part of the frame 1. At its end, situated in the head of the sewing machine, the shaft drives, by means of a device having a pitman and a crank, the needle bar 4 with reciprocating movements in a vertical direction. This mechanism which is of conventional construction, is not shown in the drawing.

For controlling the transverse movements given to the needle bar 4, this machine comprises an assembly 5 (see FIG. 2) of six cams secured to a driving shaft 7. These cams 6 are mounted permanently in the sewing machine and carry an upwardly projecting pin 8. The shaft 7 is extended upwardly by a fixing device 9 adapted to permit the association, above the cams 6, of a block formed by two cams 10 and 11 which are removable and can be replaced by another set of cams in accordance with the decorative stitches which it is desired to effect.

The fixing device, designated ina general manner by the reference 9, comprises a push button 12 permitting the extraction of the earns 10 and 11 as soon as a pressure is exerted on this button 12. The fixing and extracting device 9 will not be described in more detail here but is described and claimed in the US. Patent No. 2,879,732.

3,242,899 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 The driving shaft 7 is driven at a constant speed from the horizontal shaft for driving the needle bar 4 by the intermediary of a tangent screw mechanism, not shown.

Each of the cams 6 and 10 is adapted to operate on a feeler 13 oscillatingly mounted around an axle of oscillation 14. The axle 14 is itself fixed to a cradle 15 having two columns 16 at the top of which a plate 17 is secured by means of screws 18. The axle of oscillation 14 is guided, on the one hand, in a bearing 19 in the cradle 15 and on the other hand, by a bearing 20 in a plate 17. The axle 14 is axially maintained in place by a spring washer 21 engaged in a throat of the axle.

A part 23 including a surface providing a slide 24 is fixed to the lower end 22 of the axle of oscillation 14. The part 23 rigidly carries a column 25 the upper part which engages in a bore 26 in part 27 carrying the feeler 13. In effect, the feeler 13 is secured to part 27 by means of a screw 28. The column 25 angularly secures feeler 13 and the slide 24 for oscillating movement around the axle 14.

The selection of one or another of the cams 6 and 10 is effected by displacing the feeler 13 vertically along the column 25 and its axle of oscillation 14. The selection device which controls the vertical displacement of feeler 13, comprises a sleeve or driving part 29 for the feeler, said driving part being guided parallel to the driving shaft 7 and to the axle of oscillation 14, on a fixed axle 30 carried by a plate 31 secured in the frame 1 of the sewing machine. The plate 3-1 carries a rod 32 parallel to the fixed axle 30. The driving part 29 is provided with a bifurcated extension 33 engaged around the rod 32, which together with the fixed axle 30 ensures a parallel guiding of the driving part 29. The driving part 29 has a bifurcated head 34, the arms of which are disposed above and below an extension 35 of the part 27 carrying the feeler 13, such that the extension 35 may slide between the arms of the head 34 but will move vertically with them in response to a vertical movement of part 29. The part 27 is thus secured, so far as axial displacement is concerned, to the driving part 29, but is freely oscillatable in a plane perpendicular to the shaft 7 and to the axles 14 and 3d.

The driving part 29 is also provided with a pin 36 engaged in the profile 37 of a cam 38 having a spiral groove (see FIG. 6) and formed in a face 39 of a knurled wheel 40. The knurled wheel 40 constitutes the manual control selecting member for the cams 6 and 10 and is rotatably mounted on an axle 41 carried by a support 42 fixed to the plate 31 by screws 43. The axle 41 is situated in a plane perpendicular to the driving shaft 7.

A spring notched device is placed between the support 42 and a corresponding face 44 of the knurled wheel 40 to maintain the wheel in a stable position in each of its diverse angular positions corresponding to the cooperation of the feeler 13 with a predetermined control cam 6 or 10. This notched device comprises a piston 45 guided in a housing 46 of the support 42 and pushed by a spring 47 in the direction of the face 44 of the knurled wheel 40. The piston 45 is engaged in a circular groove 48 made in the face 44. In the base of the groove 48 are provided depressions 49 constituting the locking notches of the knurled wheel 40 in its different angular working positions.

The face 44 of the knurled wheel 40 carries figures 50 of different ornamental stitches corresponding to each of the cams 6. These figures 50 appear in a, slot 51 formed at the upper end of the support 42. The assembly of cams 6, 10 and 11 comprising also the knurled selecting wheel 40 are hidden, during the functioning of the sewing machine, under the cover 3 shown in FIG. 1.

The transmission of the oscillating movements which the feeler 13 undergoes when it is displaced by the action of one of the cams 6 or 10 on the needle bar, is effected by means of a pitman 52 pivoted at 53 by one of its ends on a cradle 54. The cradle 54 is itself adapted to oscillate around an axle 55. The cradle 54 presents bearings 56 in which the needle bar 4 slides. The other end of the pitman 52 carries a finger 57 which comes into abutment against the slide 24. The finger 57 is secured in an adjustable manner to the corresponding end of the pit-man 52 by a screw 58 and to a regulating eccentric 59. The finger 57 is provided with an axial groove 60 by which it is guided in its longitudinal movements on a pin 61, carried by the end 62 of an arm 63'forrning part of a right angled lever 64, the other arm 65 of which carries a manual control member 66. The member 66 is fixed to the end of a rod 67 extending the arm 65 and passing through a slot 68 in the frame 1 of the sewing machine. The control member 66 is adapted to permit the effecting of the variation of the amplitude of the transverse movements given to the needle bar 4 by the feeler 13, by means of the slide 24, of the finger 57 and of the pitman 52 pivoted to the cradle 54.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that in displacing the lever 64 by means of the button control member 66 there is caused a changing of position of the pin 61 resulting in a displacement of the position of the finger 57 along the slide 24. The more the finger 57 operates at a point on the slide 24 remote from its pivotal axle 14, the greater will be the amplitude of the transverse displacements of the needle bar 4. On the contrary, the closer the finger 57 is brought towards the pivotal axle 14, the more the amplitude decreases.

References -69a-re marked on the frame 1 with respect to the slot 68. These references 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 correspond to the different amplitudes chosen for the transverse movements of the needle bar 4. The adjustment of these references 69 and of the corresponding notches made in a part inserted in the frame 1, but not visible in the drawing, is such that in the position of nil amplitude, the finger 57 abuts on the slide 24 in a point situated beyond the oscillating axle 14. Since this finger 57 is retained against the slide 24 by a spring 70 exerting a pull on the pivotal axle 53, as soon as the finger 57 passes the axle of oscillation 14 it swings the part 23 in a clockwise direction (with respect to FIG. entraining a corresponding movement of the feeler 13 which goes away-from the profile of the cams 6 and 10. This swinging and entraining is limited by an abutment, not shown.

The sewing machine likewise comprises a device permitting the adjustment of the centering position of the needle with respect to the pieces to be sewn. This device comprises a manually controlled knurled wheel 71 mounted on :an axle 72 carried by the plate 31. The periphery of the knurled wheel 71 projects through an opening 73 provided in the frame -1 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). A cam 74 in the form of a groove is formed in the upper face of the knurled wheel 71 and a pin 75 abuts the profile of the cam 74, said pin being secured at the end of an extension 76 of the cradle 15, which is mounted oscillatingly around the fixed axle 30. The pin 75 is mounted on the extension 76 by means of an eccentric device 77 locked by a nut 78 permitting the adjustment of the position of the pin 75 with respect to the extension 76.

Referring to FIG. 3 especially, it will be seen that in angularly displacing the knurled wheel 71, there is caused an angular displacement of the cradle 15 and also of the axle of oscillation 14 common to the feeler 13 and to the slide 24. The displacement of the axle of oscillation 14 results in a corresponding displacement of the centering position of the needle bar 4. The knurled wheel 71 is provided with references 79 indicating the different positions of centering of the needle bar 4.

The functioning of the sewing machine described and more particularly of the selection device for the control cams is effected in the following manner:

When it is desired to choose a particular decorative stitch for the sewing of certain parts, the .cover 3 is first opened permitting access to the knurled selecting wheel 40. Then the control member 66 for the amplitude of the transverse movements on the needle-bar is placed the position 0. In this position, the feeler 13 is remote from the profile of the cams 6 and 11 since the finger 57 abuts against the slide 24 at a point situated beyond the axle of oscillation 14. Thus, the feeler 13 can undergo a vertical displacement parallel to the shaft 7, it being free to move, however, in this direction. It is sufiicient then to effect the vertical displacement by manipulating the knurled selecting wheel 40 until the figure 50 correspond ing to the decorative stitch chosen appears in the slot 51 The sewing machine can then be put into motion and as soon as the control member 66 is displaced from the position 0 to one of the positions ,1, 2, 3, 4, the feeler 13 enters into contact with the chosen profile of the cam which gives a corresponding transverse movement to the needlebar 4.

It is to be noted that the changing of the ornamental stitch can likewise be effected during the operation of the machine without difficulty by opening the cover 3 and by manipulating the knurled wheel 40 to the desired setting.

If decorative stitches are chosen, which do not correspond to the cam 6, a new block of cams 1t 11 can be introduced into the machine by pressing on the button 12 so as to extract the block of cams 10, 11 in place on the driving shaft 7 and to replace them by a different block. Once they are put in place on the shaft 7, the new block of cams 10, 11 is driven by the pin 3 engaging in the hole 80 of the block of cams 10, 11. The position of the feeler 13 shown with respect to the additional cam 10 is effected inmoving the knurled selecting wheel in such a manner that the reference A comes into position in the slot 51. The cam 11, constituting the upper cam of the assembly of cams carried by the shaft 7, is adapted to operate on a feeler 81 operating on the control of the movements of the feeler for'the sewing machine.

This arrangement permits obtaining different decora tive stitches superposing the action of the cam 11 on the feeler. 81 with the action of the cams 6 and 1th on the feeler 13.

Numerous variations inexecution could be imagined. Thus the knurled selecting wheel 40 could be replaced by a simple-lever of the same type as the lever 64. Moreover, the guide head 34 could be formed by a rod, or a roller, engaged in a fork or a groove which would be carried by the extension 35 of the part 27.

Further, the notched device, instead of comprising the piston 45, could be constituted by a simple leaf spring applied elastically against the periphery of the knurled selecting wheel 40 and engaging between its teeth.

I claim:

1. A sewing machine for making ornamental stitches, comprising, in combination, a frame, a vertically disposed drive shaft rotatable in said frame, a series of control cams juxtaposed on said drive shaft, oscillating feeler means slidable parallel to said shaft, a selection device for aligning said feeler means opposite one of said cams, and bringing it into contact with one of said cams, said selection device mounted inside the frame of the machine, a cover hinged to the frame to permit access to said selection device, an oscillating slide angularly solid with said feeler, a finger engaging said slide, an oscillating needle cradle, a needle bar slidable in said cradle, means connecting said finger to said cradle so that the movements of said slide are transmitted to said cradle and needle bar, said selection device comprising,

a plate secure to said frame, a guide axle mounted on said plate parallel to said drive shaft, a driving member slidable on said axle, a manually operated selection wheel rotatably mounted on said frame on an axle perpendicular to the axis of said guide axle and adjacent said driving member, cam means comprising a spiral groove on the face of said selection wheel opposite said driving member, a pin rigid with said driving member and engaged in said groove, a bifurcated head integral with said driving member and engaging said feeler means to guide the vertical movements of said feeler means rela-% tive to said control cams, a cradle oscillatable on said guide axle, an axle of oscillation mounted on said cradle and around which said feeler means and said slide oscillate, a serrated wheel axially mounted on said plate, second cam means comprising a spiral groove on said serrated wheel and a pin on said cradle engaged in said groove, whereby rotation of said wheel controls the centering position of said needle bar by displacement of said cradle and the axle of oscillation common to said feeler means 20 and said slide.

2. A sewing machine according to claim 1 wherein a guide rod is carried by said plate, parallel to said guide axle, for guiding said driving member.

3. A sewing machine according to claim 1, having a manual control member mechanically connected to said finger for adjusting the amplitude of the transverse movements of the needle bar by displacement of the finger along the oscillating slide, a zero position of said manual control member and said finger in which the finger engages on the oscillating slide beyond its point of oscillation whereby the oscillating slide is rocked and moves the feeler means away from said control cams permitting free selection of one of the control cams.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,845 7/1954 Casas-Robert et al. 112158 2,906,219 9/1959 Vigorelli 112158 3,064,602 11/1962 Danno l12158 3,067,702 12/1962 Shirnada ll2-l58 3,108,556 10/1963 Casas-Robert et al. 112l58 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT V. SLOAN, Examiner.

R. J. SCANLAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SEWING MACHINE FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL STITCHES, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME A VERTICALLY DISPOSED DRIVE SHAFT ROTATABLE IN SAID FRAME, A SERIES OF CONTROL CAMS JUXTAPOSED ON SAID DRIVE SHAFT, OSCILLATING FEELER MEANS SLIDABLE PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT, A SELECTION DEVICE FOR ALIGNING SAID FEELER MEANS OPPOSITE ONE OF SAID CAMS, AND BRINGING IT INTO CONTACT WITH ONE OF SAID CAMS, SAID SELECTION DEVICE MOUNTED INSIDE THE FRAME OF THE MACHINE, A COVER HINGED TO THE FRAME TO PERMIT ACCESS TO SAID SELECTION DEVICE, AN OSCILLATING SLIDE ANGULARLY SOLID WITH SAID FEELER, A FINGER ENGAGING SAID SLIDE, AN OSCILLATING NEEDLE CRADLE, A NEEDLE BAR SLIDABLE IN SAID CRADLE, MEANS CONNECTING SAID FINGER TO SAID CRADLE SO THAT THE MOVEMENTS OF SAID SLIDE ARE TRANSMITTED TO SAID CRADLE AND NEEDLE BAR, SAID SELECTION DEVICE COMPRISING, A PLATE SECURE TO SAID FRAME, A GUIDE AXLE MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE PARALLEL TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT, A DRIVING MEMBER SLIDABLE ON SAID AXLE, A MANUALLY OPERATED SELECTION WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ON AN AXLE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID GUIDE AXLE AND ADJACENT SAID 